President Trump issued a Proclamation (full text) yesterday ordering flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of the late Pope Francis’ funeral. The President announced yesterday on Truth Social that he and the First Lady will attend the Pope’s funeral in Rome.
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Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Permissive Opt-Out of Children from Exposure To LGBTQ-Friendly Books
The U.S. Supreme Court this morning will hear oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor. In the case, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a Maryland federal district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction in a challenge to a school board’s refusal to allow parents to opt their children out of exposure to a…
Religious Corporation Exemption to Maryland Anti-Discrimination Law Does Not Excuse LGBT Discrimination Against Data Analyst
In Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, (D MD, April 21, 2025), a Maryland federal district court held that the religious corporation exemption from the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act does not apply to the termination of spousal health care benefits of the same-sex spouse of a data analyst and advisor working for Catholic Relief…
Parents Lack Standing to Challenge Law Barring Schools from Disclosing Child’s Change of Name or Pronoun
In Chino Valley Unified School District v. Newsom, (ED CA, April 18, 2025), a California federal district court held that plaintiffs, parents of school children, lack standing to challenge a California law that prohibits public schools from requiring disclosure to parents, without their child’s consent, of their child’s change of name or gender pronoun…
Supreme Court Hears Arguments Today on Mandated Insurance Coverage for Anti-HIV Drugs Over Religious Objections
The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments this morning in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc. Plaintiffs in the case objected on religious grounds to providing their employees the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s mandated insurance coverage for pre-exposure drugs that prevent the transmission of HIV. Plaintiffs contended that this coverage makes them complicit in facilitating…
"Religious" Belief Defined Broadly in Title VII Claim
Numerous cases challenging employers’ refusal to grant exemptions to Covid vaccine mandates during the height of the Covid epidemic continue to wend their way through the courts. Here is the latest.In Huber v. TIAA, (WD VA, April 17, 2025), a Virginia federal district court refused to dismiss a former employee’s Title VII failure to…
Catholic Employers Get Permanent Injunction Against EEOC
In Catholic Benefits Association v. Lucas, (D ND, April 25, 2025), a North Dakota federal district court converted a preliminary injunction granted last September to a Catholic diocese and a Catholic employers’ organization (see prior posting) into a permanent injunction. At issue are rules and guidance documents issued under the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness…
Appellate Court Upholds $1.2M Fine Against Church for Violating Covid Public Health Orders
In People of the State of California v. Calvary Chapel San Jose, (CA App., April 15, 2025), a California state appellate court affirmed the imposition of administrative fines totaling $1,228,700 on defendant church for violating Covid public health orders requiring face coverings and submission of a social distancing protocol. The court rejected Calvary Chapel’s…
USCIS Is Screening Immigration Applicants for Antisemitic Activity
Last week (April 9), the Department of Homeland Security announced that it will begin screening the social media of aliens applying for immigration benefits to determine whether they have been engaged in antisemitic activity. A News Release (full text) posted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reads in part:Today U.S. Citizenship and…
President Issues Holy Week Message, Promising to Defend Christian Faith in Schools and Government Facilities
Yesterday, the White House issued a Presidential Message on Holy Week, 2025 (full text). The President said in part:During this sacred week, we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture,…